Sauna

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A sauna, the wet version also called steam bath, is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet/dry heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary facilities, or the act of using a sauna. Taking a sauna is usually a social affair in which the participants disrobe and sit or recline in temperatures of over 40 °C or 100 °F. This induces relaxation and promotes sweating. In some styles of sauna water is periodically trickled over hot stones to generate a rush of steam. Sometimes fragrant branches and leaves are lightly slapped on the skin, to promote better circulation and provide additional stimulation. It is believed by some that heavy sweating helps to remove 'toxins' from the body. It is also believed that exposure of the skin to heat stimulates the production of white blood cells and strengthens the immune system.

inside a Sauna

The Finnish sauna (70-120 degrees Celsius) is the most widely known, but many cultures have close equivalents, such as the North American First Nations sweat lodge, the Turkish hammam, Roman theremae, Maya temescal and Russian bania or banya. Public bathhouses that often contained a steam room were common in the 1700's, 1800's and early 1900's and were inexpensive places to go to wash when private facilities were not generally available. Most North American college/university physical education complexes and many public sports centers include sauna facilities. They may also be present in a public swimming pool. This may be a separate area where swimming wear is taken off or a smaller facility in the swimming pool area where one should keep the swimming wear on.

Under many circumstances, temperatures approaching and exceeding 100 degrees Celsius would be completely intolerable. Saunas overcome this problem by controlling the humidity. The hottest Finnish and Swedish saunas have very low humidity levels, which allows temperatures that could boil water to be tolerated and even enjoyed for short periods of time. Other types of sauna, such as the hammam where the humidity approaches 100%, will be set to a much lower temperature of around 40 degrees to compensate. The "wet heat" would cause scalding if the temperature was set much higher. Finer control over the temperature experienced can be achieved by choosing a higher level bench for those wishing a hotter experience or a lower level bench for a more moderate temperature. Good manners requires that the door to a sauna is not kept open long enough to cool the sauna for those that are already in it. A draft, even if at 100°, may still be unwelcome.

Saunas in Finland are often located at the side of a lake. Finns typically cool off with a plunge into lake or, in winter, a roll in the snow or a quick dip through a hole in the ice. Urban sauna-goers have to settle for a cool shower or for a plunge into a cold pool.

The sauna can be so soothing that heat prostration or the even more serious hyperthermia (heat stroke) can result. The cool shower or plunge afterwards always results in a great increase in blood pressure, so careful moderation is advised for those with a history of stroke or hypertension (high blood pressure). In Finland sauna is thought as a healing refreshment and has been used to cure people from all diseases through the times.

Alcoholic drinks are usually not used in the sauna, as the effects of heat and alcohol are cumulative, although in the Finnish sauna culture a beer afterwards is thought to be refreshing and relaxing. Some also throw pure grain alcohol on the heated stones, to induce extreme intoxication through inhalation.

Social and mixed gender nudity with adults and children is quite common in the conventional sauna, with a strict prohibition of any form of sexual activity. In the dry sauna and on chairs one sits on a towel for hygiene; in the steam bath the towel is left outside. Sometimes draping the towel around the waist is required in the restaurant area.

As an additional facility a sauna may have one or more jacuzzis.

Saunas and sex

In some countries there are adult-only saunas that have different rules and customs, the term "sauna" being used for a bath-house or "health club", sometimes with facilities like a standard sauna, but where people go to find sexual partners and have sex on the premises (however not in the sauna itself!). Some such saunas rent out small rooms for this purpose: others are disguised brothels. This euphemistic usage generally applies to establishments that advertise themselves as being a sauna rather than those that have a sauna on the premises. This generally happens more frequently in the U.S. and the UK than in Continental Europe and Finland where a sauna is generally seen as a family or social event.

See also Safe sex party, gay bathhouse

Modern sauna culture around the world

Public perception of saunas, sauna "etiquette" and sauna customs vary hugely from country to country. In many countries sauna going is a recent fashion and attitudes towards saunas are changing, while in others traditions have survived over generations.

In Finland and Russia sauna going plays a central social role. These countries boast the hottest saunas and the tradition of beating fellow sauna goers with birch branches. In Russia saunas are strictly single sex while in Finland both types occur.

Benelux and Scandinavian countries, where saunas have been around for a long time too, generally have a moderate, "live and let live" attitude towards sauna going with few traditions to speak of. Levels of nudity vary, single sex saunas are as common as mixed sex saunas and people tend to socialise.

In Germany and Austria on the other hand nudity is strictly enforced, as is the covering of benches with towels. Single sex saunas are rare. Loud conversation is not usually tolerated as the sauna is seen as a place of healing rather than socialising. Cold showers or baths shortly after a sauna are considered a must.

In much of southern Europe, France and the UK nudity is strictly forbidden, a cause of confusion and argument when nationals of these nations cross the border to Germany and Austria or vice versa. Sauna sessions tend to be shorter and cold showers are shunned by most. In the UK, where saunas are on the rise, the practice of alternating between the sauna and the jacuzzi in short seatings (considered a faux pas in Northern Europe) has emerged in some public saunas.

Hungarians see the sauna a part of a wider spa culture. Here too attidudes are less liberal and single sex is the norm.

In South America saunas are an exclusively upper class affair. Temperatures are lower than in Europe and nudity is forbidden.